The geological mapping section (GMS) is under the Geoscience division which is responsible for the preparation of a general geological map of the country at various scales. This section maintains a library of available topographical maps and published geological maps of various parts of the country.
Objective of the geological mapping section
1. To carry out geological mapping of Nepal for:
• Prospecting and exploration of all types of mineral resources, and
• Planning of developmental infrastructures and disaster mitigation.
2. To conduct geoscientific research on the Nepal Himalayas
3. To publish and disseminate geo-information
Geological Mapping in the Nepal Himalayas
The history of geological study in the Nepal Himalayas started in the late 19th century with the works of Hooker (1854), Medlicot (1875), Oldham (1893), Auden (1935), etc. However, no systematic work was done. If one makes an exception to a few sporadic observations made by foreign geologists, systematic study of the Nepal Himalayas was started only after 1950. Toni Hagen carried out the first systematic geological study of the country in the fifties. After that Bordet (1961), Geological Survey of India (1968), Le Fort ( 1969), Fuchs and Frank (1970), Talalov (1972), Hashimoto (1973), Stocklin and Bhattarai (1977) etc have made geological studies of various parts of the country.
Regional geological mapping
Nepalese geologists of the then Nepal Geological Survey (NGS) had started the systematic geological mapping of the country in the late sixties, and then was continued later on by DMG.
Systematic coverage of the whole country by regional geological mapping of the scale 1" = 1 mile of accessible parts of the country, mainly Central Midlands (Lesser Himalaya) and Churia range was completed during 1967-1980.
As a second phase of the regional mapping, the checking of field data produced earlier, analysis, interpretation, and compilation for printing was carried out during 1980-85. A unified stratigraphic scheme and tectonic structure of the Lesser Himalayas and Siwalik was established.
Five Sheets of colored geological maps covering the whole of the Lesser Himalayas and Churia range and Terai belt of Nepal at the scale of 1:250,000 were published. A geological map covering the whole of Nepal, based upon the geological maps published by the DMG and data from other sources, was prepared and published on the scale of 1:1,000,000.
quartzite1Geological Mapping works were conducted in the Higher Himalayan area of the Far Western and Eastern Nepal, during 1985-90.
Similarly, the geological reconnaissance survey of the Tibetan Tethys sedimentary basin covering the Higher Himalayan Range of high altitude was conducted mainly along major river valleys and a few high altitudes tracks crossing through passes at 17,000 – 18,000 ft. in two years 1990-92.
Preparation and publication of second-generation maps on the scale 1:50,000 of different parts of Nepal in continuation to the area covered by maps published by the Mineral Exploration Development Board (MEDB)/DMG and the area of Far Western Nepal is continuing since 1992.
Geological mapping works conducted to date
The total area of Nepal-------------------------------------------------------------147,181 sq. km
Total area surveyed(Published + Unpublished)------------------------- 119,681sq.km
Maps compiled and published, scale 1:250,000------------------------ 93,000 sq. km
Second generation maps published, scale 1:50,000--------------------18,750 sq. km
Inaccessible areas (not mapped)--------------------------------------------27,500 sq. km
Being rugged and topographic difficulties many part of the Higher Himalayas in Nepal is still geologically unmapped and unexplored by DMG. We are seeking international help to explore Higher Himalayas.
Staffs
According to the current approved organizational structure of the Department of Mines and Geology, There are altogether five permanent staff in this section. Among them, four are geologists (Gazetted III class officer, Nepal Government) and an Assistant Geologist who works under the Head of the section who is a Senior Divisional Geologist (Gazetted II class officer of Nepal Government).
Published Geological maps in 1:50,000
| Published Geological Map from Mapping Section | |||||
| S.N. | Code No. | Title of Map | Scale | Year of Publication | Price (NRs.) |
| 1 | GM1 | Geological Map of Nepal | 1:1,000,000 | 1994 | 550 |
| 2 | GM2 | Geological Map of Eastern Nepal | 1:250,000 | 1984 | out of stock |
| 3 | GM3 | Geological Map of Central Nepal | 1:250,000 | 1985 | out of stock |
| 4 | GM4 | Geological Map of Western Nepal | 1:250,000 | 1983 | out of stock |
| 5 | GM5 | Geological Map of Mid-Western Nepal | 1:250,000 | 1987 | out of stock |
| 6 | GM6 | Geological Map of Far Western Nepal | 1:250,000 | 1987 | out of stock |
| 7 | GM7 | Geological Map of Kathmandu and Central Mahabharat Range | 1:250,000 | 1980 | 330 |
| 8 | GM8 | Geological map of Province 1, Koshi Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 9 | GM9 | Geological map of the Province 2, Madhesh Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 10 | GM10 | Geological map of the Province 3, Bagmati Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 11 | GM11 | Geological map of the Province 4, Gandaki Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 12 | GM12 | Geological map of the Province 5, Lumbini Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 13 | GM13 | Geological map of the Province 6, Karnali Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 14 | GM14 | Geological map of the Province 7, Sudurpaschim Province | 1:250,000 | 2021 | 475 |
| 15 | GM15 | Photogeology Map of part of Central Nepal | 1:1,000,000 | 1982 | out of stock |
| 16 | GM16 | Geological Map of Parts of Tanahun, Gorkha, and Nawalparasi Districts (72 A/5) | 1:50,000 | 1996 | 275 |
| 17 | GM17 | Geological Map of Parts of Tanahun and Kaski Districts (71 D/4) | 1:50,000 | 1996 | 275 |
| 18 | GM18 | Geological Map of Parts of Syangja, Kaski, and Tanahun Districts (62 P/16) | 1:50,000 | 1999 | 275 |
| 19 | GM19 | Geological Map of Parts of Tanahun and Nawalparasi Districts (72 A/1) | 1:50,000 | 1999 | 275 |
| 20 | GM20 | Geological Map of Parts of Syangja, Palpa and Tanahun Districts (63 M/13) | 1:50,000 | 1999 | 275 |
| 21 | GM21 | Geological Map of Parts of Parbat, Baglung and Gulmi Districts (62 P/12) | 1:50,000 | 2000 | 275 |
| 22 | GM22 | Geological Map of Parts of Gulmi and Baglung Districts (62 P/8) | 1:50,000 | 2000 | 275 |
| 23 | GM23 | Geological Map of Parts of Palpa, Syangja and Gulmi Districts (63 M/9) | 1:50,000 | 2000 | 275 |
| 24 | GM24 | Geological Map of Parts of Palpa, Arghakhanchi and Gulmi Districts (63 M/5) | 1:50,000 | 2000 | 275 |
| 25 | GM25 | Geological Map of Parts of Kaski and Parbat Districts (62 P/15) | 1:50,000 | 2002 | 275 |
| 26 | GM26 | Geological Map of Parts of Myagdi, Parbat and Baglung Districts (62 P/11) | 1:50,000 | 2002 | 275 |
| 27 | GM27 | Geological Map of Parts of Myagdi, Baglung and Gulmi Districts (62 P/7) | 1:50,000 | 2003 | 275 |
| 28 | GM28 | Geological Map of Parts of Baglung, Pyuthan and Gulmi Districts (62 P/3) | 1:50,000 | 2003 | 275 |
| 29 | GM29 | Geological Map of Parts of Myagdi and Mustang Districts (Western Part) (62 P/6) | 1:50,000 | 2004 | 275 |
| 30 | GM30 | Geological Map of Parts of Myagdi and Mustang Districts (Eastern Part) (62 P/10) | 1:50,000 | 2004 | 275 |
| 31 | GM31 | Geological Map of Parts of Gulmi, Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi and Baglung Districts (62 P/4) | 1:50,000 | 2004 | 275 |
| 32 | GM32 | Geological Map of Parts of Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot Districts (Melamchi Area) (72 E/9) | 1:50,000 | 2005 | 275 |
| 33 | GM33 | Geological Map of Parts of Sindhupalchok Districts (Barhabise Area) (72 E/13) | 1:50,000 | 2005 | 275 |
| 34 | GM34 | Geological Map of Parts of Dang, Rolpa and Pyuthan Districts (62 L/12) | 1:50,000 | 2006 | 275 |
| 35 | GM35 | Geological Map of Parts of Pyuthan and Arghakhanchi Districts (62 L/16) | 1:50,000 | 2006 | 275 |
| 36 | GM36 | Geological Map of Parts of Chitwan, Dhading and Makawanpur Districts (72 A/14) | 1:50,000 | 2007 | 275 |
| 37 | GM37 | Geological Map of Parts of Dhading, Makawanpur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur Districts (72 E/2) | 1:50,000 | 2007 | 275 |
| 38 | GM38 | Geological Map of Parts of Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli Districts (72 E/11) | 1:50,000 | 2008 | 275 |
| 39 | GM39 | Geological Map of Parts of Kavrepalanchok, Ramechhap and Sindhuli Districts (72 E/15) | 1:50,000 | 2008 | 275 |
| 40 | GM40 | Geological Map of Parts of Baitadi and Dadeldhura Districts (2980 10) | 1:50,000 | 2009 | 275 |
| 41 | GM41 | Geological Map of Parts of Baitadi and Dadeldhura Districts (2980 11) | 1:50,000 | 2010 | 275 |
| 42 | GM42 | Geological Map of Parts of Baitadi, Bajhang and Doti Districts (2980 12) | 1:50,000 | 2011 | 275 |
| 43 | GM43 | Geological Map of Parts of Doti, Dadeldhura and Kailali Districts (2980 15) | 1:50,000 | 2010 | 275 |
| 44 | GM44 | Geological Map of Parts of Doti and Kailali Districts (2980 16) | 1:50,000 | 2011 | 275 |
| 45 | GM45 | Geological Map of Parts of Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang and Udaypur Districts (2786 11 Lower Half, 2786 15A and 2786 15B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 46 | GM46 | Geological Map of Parts of Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Terhathum and Panchthar Districts (2787 11 Lower Half, 2787 15A and 2787 15B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 47 | GM47 | Geological Map of Parts of Terhathum, Taplejung and Panchthar Districts (2787 12 Lower Half, 2787 16A and 2787 16B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 48 | GM48 | Geological Map of Parts of Khotang and Bhojpur Districts (2786 12 Lower Half, 2786 16A and 2786 16B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 49 | GM49 | Geological Map of Parts of Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Dhankuta Districts (2787 9C, 2787 9D, 2787 13A and 2787 13B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 50 | GM50 | Geological Map of Parts of Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Dhankuta and Terhathum Districts (2787 10 Lower Half, 2787 14A and 2787 14B) | 1:50,000 | 2019 | 275 |
| 51 | GM51 | Geological map of Parts of Gorkha, Chitwan, Tanahun and Dhading Districts (2784-03) | 1:50,000 | 2022 | 500 |
| 52 | GM52 | Geological map of Parts of Dhading, Gorkha and Nuwakot Districts (2784-04) | 1:50,000 | 2022 | 500 |
| 53 | GM53 | Geological map of Parts of Nuwakot, Dhading and Rasuwa Districts (2785-01) | 1:50,000 | 2022 | 500 |
| 54 | GM54 | Geological map of Parts of Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa and Dhading Districts (2785-02) | 1:50,000 | 2022 | 500 |
| 55 | GM55 | Geological map of Parts of Gorkha and Lamjung Districts (2884-15) | 1:50,000 | 2022 | 500 |
